Biorefinery and Thermochemical Conversion as Solutions for the Industrial Use of Agro-Industrial Residues

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 875

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
CERENA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Rovisco Pais, Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: biomass and wastes conversion and valorization; bio-based chemicals and products; bio-based polymers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 91509-900, Brazil
Interests: analytical chemistry; biotechnology; pyrolysis; bio-oil; chromatography

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In a world challenged by the need for sustainable resource management and innovative industrial practices, the efficient utilization of agro-industrial residues has emerged as a paramount concern. As the global population continues to grow, so does the generation of organic waste from agricultural and industrial processes. Addressing this challenge requires transformative approaches that reduce environmental impact and enhance resource efficiency. This Special Issue delves into the promising domains of biorefinery and thermochemical conversion, two distinct yet interconnected methodologies, as dynamic solutions for harnessing the untapped potential of agro-industrial residues. By exploring these approaches’ principles, advantages, and applications, we will offer a comprehensive view of the path towards sustainable and economically viable practices that align with circular economy principles and environmental sustainability. This special Issue aims to unravel the intricacies of biorefinery and thermochemical conversion, offering a comprehensive understanding of their pivotal roles in shaping the approaches to agro-industrial residue utilization.

This Special Issue on “Biorefinery and Thermochemical Conversion as Solutions for the Industrial Use of Agro-Industrial Residues” aims to curate novel advances in the development of the use of agro-industrial Residues as feedstocks for the production of added-value products under the scope of Biorefinery and Thermochemical Conversion . Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Agro-industrial Residues Valorization;
  • Thermochemical processes;
  • Biomass Conversion;
  • Bio-Based added-value products.

Dr. Rui Galhano dos Santos
Prof. Dr. Elina Bastos Caramão
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biorefinery
  • thermochemical conversion
  • agro-industrial residues
  • pyrolysis
  • liquefaction
  • circular economy
  • sustainability
  • bio-based products

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 573 KiB  
Article
Equation-Oriented Modeling and Optimization of a Biorefinery Based on Avocado Waste
by Daniel Sousa, Diogo Rodrigues, Pedro M. Castro and Henrique A. Matos
Processes 2024, 12(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12010091 - 30 Dec 2023
Viewed by 647
Abstract
Due to the growth in the consumption of avocado in recent years, the amount of waste caused by avocado peel and seed has increased. Avocado waste can be transformed into valuable products such as energy, biofuels, and biological products using integrated processes in [...] Read more.
Due to the growth in the consumption of avocado in recent years, the amount of waste caused by avocado peel and seed has increased. Avocado waste can be transformed into valuable products such as energy, biofuels, and biological products using integrated processes in a biorefinery. This paper considers the detailed modeling, simulation, and optimization of a biorefinery for the production of phenolic compounds, bioethanol, biological xylitol, syngas, and electrical power from avocado seed and peel, using Aspen Plus in equation-oriented mode as a process simulation tool. For a biorefinery in nominal conditions, it is possible to achieve a gross profit of approximately 30×106 USD/year for capital costs of USD 31.4×106, while the combined effect of process optimization and heat integration allows reaching a gross profit of 37×106 USD/year for capital costs of USD 30.7×106. These results of the optimized plant show its potential to take advantage of avocado seed and peel in a profitable and sustainable way. This detailed equation-based model paves the way for superstructure optimization of a biorefinery for avocado waste processing. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop